# Wow, these people are our future? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 2, 2006, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wow-these-people-are-our-future/355106 "2006-05-02T15:07:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2006, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wow-these-people-are-our-future/355106/81 "2006-05-05T18:48:08Z")
[ol] [li]Who wrote _Idylls of the King_, and about what historic figure?[/li]No idea [li]If you’re given volts, what do you need to calculate watts?[/li]Current [li]What’s the formula for calculating the area of a circle? [/li]Pi (r^2) [li]Name this [tree](http://static.flickr.com/17/20619475_1d32f159a7.jpg)[/li]No idea. But I’ve seen them. [li]Name this [bird](http://images.enature.com/birds/birds_m/BD0339_1m.jpg)[/li]Starling [li]Name a situation where you are likely to use a dado joint[/li]Cabinet making [li]Name all the NFL teams in the state of California[/li]Ahhhh… Oakland Raiders, SF 49ers, Dan Diego Chargers, [li]Define Say’s Law[/li]NO idea [li]How many fluid ounces are in a cup?[/li]8 [li]Define the relationship among the following: gene, chromosome, DNA[/li]Beats me apart from the obvious biological connection. [li]What is the name of Bart Simpson’s bespectacled friend?[/li]Milhouse [li]How many members of Congress does your state have?[/li]Zero. I live in Ontario, Canada. [li]What metals typically are used to make brass?[/li]Copper and tin [/ol] How’d I do, how’d I do??? ---
**Author:** ![Sal\_Ammoniac](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8dc957/32.png) [@Sal\_Ammoniac](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sal_Ammoniac)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2006, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wow-these-people-are-our-future/355106/82 "2006-05-05T19:00:04Z")
**Leaffan** , you got 5 of 13, though I’ll give you a pass on the members of Congress question. So, grading on the curve, you get an A. But the more interesting question is how you _feel_ about it. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2006, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wow-these-people-are-our-future/355106/83 "2006-05-05T19:13:59Z")
> [@Sal Ammoniac](#): > > **Leaffan** , you got 5 of 13, though I’ll give you a pass on the members of Congress question. So, grading on the curve, you get an A. But the more interesting question is how you _feel_ about it. Upon review, I thought I got 7 correct. 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 9, and 11. Which 2 of those are incorrect? How did I feel? Ambivalent. I could dream up 13 equally disjointed questions that would be difficult for many to answer. Although Ken Jennings would do better. ---
**Author:** ![Sal\_Ammoniac](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8dc957/32.png) [@Sal\_Ammoniac](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sal_Ammoniac)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2006, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wow-these-people-are-our-future/355106/84 "2006-05-05T19:18:28Z")
2 and 5 are wrong. And I should really ding you for not being specific enough on number 6. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2006, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wow-these-people-are-our-future/355106/85 "2006-05-05T19:32:56Z")
> [@Sal Ammoniac](#): > > 2 and 5 are wrong. And I should really ding you for not being specific enough on number 6. How is 2 wrong? Power = Amps X Volts (Amps is the amount of current) You’re going to tell me 5 is a grackle, right? I’ve been Googling this and I’m still not convinced! And I’ve seen dado joints in cabinets? You only asked for a situation. ---
**Author:** ![Sal\_Ammoniac](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8dc957/32.png) [@Sal\_Ammoniac](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sal_Ammoniac)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2006, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wow-these-people-are-our-future/355106/86 "2006-05-05T19:39:13Z")
Oh, all right, you can have current – in a bun, if you like. You’re up to 6 of 13, so leaving off the one that doesn’t apply to you, you’re at 50%. Which means you should either hunt down your teachers and kill them, or else agree with me that there’s really no such thing as “general knowledge.” ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2006, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wow-these-people-are-our-future/355106/87 "2006-05-05T19:53:42Z")
> [@Sal Ammoniac](#): > > Oh, all right, you can have current – in a bun, if you like. You’re up to 6 of 13, so leaving off the one that doesn’t apply to you, you’re at 50%. Which means you should either hunt down your teachers and kill them, or else agree with me that there’s really no such thing as “general knowledge.” Agreed!!! Stop the torture… 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![hawksgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ed655f/32.png) [@hawksgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hawksgirl)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2006, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wow-these-people-are-our-future/355106/88 "2006-05-05T20:39:03Z")
I assumed that the map they were shown was unmarked except for national boundaries and oceans, otherwise what is the point. And that doesn’t include the ones who knew it was in the Middle East but accidentally chose Israel, Iran, or Saudi Arabia. Given the chance to look it up, these people would know which one was correct. Techinically the knew WHERE Iraq was in general, but could not identify it specifically. But I could be totally wrong and not understand how they tested people. ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2006, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wow-these-people-are-our-future/355106/89 "2006-05-05T20:56:21Z")
> [@davenportavenger](#): > > Well, if kids knew the general location of Iraq then it should be easy enough to use a map to find it, as long as they have basic map-reading skills. (I am assuming the map was marked.) So they don’t even know it’s in the Middle East. Which in my opinion is terrible. I agree they should have an idea it’s in the Middle East. But let’s face it, the guys asking the question **want** the kids to fail. It’s hardly news to say ‘pupils identify something correctly’, is it? I suspect it was a world map. > [@davenportavenger](#): > > Oh, and I could find four of the countries or former countries on that list by sight, know the general area of three, and am in the dark on the other four (I have never heard of San Seriffe or Kalymkia). And I don’t think I’m terribly well-informed. I’m rather proud of my list, so thanks for having a go at it. It was aimed as a challenge for \*\*Askance \*\* , who said it was vital to know this stuff. I can tell you that the President of the World Chess Federation comes from one of the two countries you’ve never heard of… ---
**Author:** ![Polerius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/d78d45/32.png) [@Polerius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polerius)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2006, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wow-these-people-are-our-future/355106/90 "2006-05-05T22:53:55Z")
> [@glee](#): > > Where are these located? > > Yugoslavia > Jersey > The Cook Islands > Rhodesia > Kalmykia > The USSR > Gibraltar > San Seriffe > Prussia > Turkmenistan > Belize The thing is, the U.S. hasn’t been **at war for three years** with any of these. If, in 1943, some Americans didn’t know where Rhodesia is, that wouldn’t be appalling. What _would_ be appaling is not knowing where Germany is. Even though most people in the US could get by perfectly fine in 1943 without knowing where Germany is, the fact that one did not know it would exhibit such a severe lack of curiosity and awareness that it would make them look like useless buffoons. The point in life is not simply “to get by” with the minimal amount of information possible. I’m not sure which is more shocking: That there are people who don’t know where Iraq and Louisiana are, or that there are people on the SDMB saying that this is a perfectly acceptable state of affairs. I think the latter. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2006, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wow-these-people-are-our-future/355106/91 "2006-05-05T23:09:08Z")
> [@Sal Ammoniac](#): > > Okay, for everyone who wants to complain about the lack of general knowledge of others, I’ve put together a little quiz. Here goes: > > [ol] > [li]Who wrote _Idylls of the King_, and about what historic figure?[/li][li]If you’re given volts, what do you need to calculate watts?[/li][li]What’s the formula for calculating the area of a circle? [/li][li]Name this [tree](http://static.flickr.com/17/20619475_1d32f159a7.jpg)[/li][li]Name this [bird](http://images.enature.com/birds/birds_m/BD0339_1m.jpg)[/li][li]Name a situation where you are likely to use a dado joint[/li][li]Name all the NFL teams in the state of California[/li][li]Define Say’s Law[/li][li]How many fluid ounces are in a cup?[/li][li]Define the relationship among the following: gene, chromosome, DNA[/li][li]What is the name of Bart Simpson’s bespectacled friend?[/li][li]How many members of Congress does your state have?[/li][li]What metals typically are used to make brass?[/ol][/li]If you can’t answer 100% of these general-knowledge questions, then maybe you should stop dissing other people for their lack of general knowledge. Is number four… the larch? ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2006, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wow-these-people-are-our-future/355106/92 "2006-05-05T23:41:59Z")
> [@tomndebb](#): > > _ **::: GASP :::** _ OK, Cecil on a good day can probably pull a “close enough”… ---
**Author:** ![Sal\_Ammoniac](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8dc957/32.png) [@Sal\_Ammoniac](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sal_Ammoniac)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2006, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wow-these-people-are-our-future/355106/93 "2006-05-06T00:06:54Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > Is number four… the larch? Nope… try asking **Polerius** , as he/she is shocked by any and all ignorance. ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2006, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wow-these-people-are-our-future/355106/94 "2006-05-06T00:08:59Z")
> [@](#): > > A human being should be able to change a diaper, check > [@](#): > > plan an invasion, Sure, but don’t count on victory… or even survivors > [@](#): > > butcher a hog, Been since the 70s since I was at such a scene… > [@](#): > > conn a ship, do I get GPS, LORAN and depth sonar? > [@](#): > > design a building, A very small one > [@](#): > > write a sonnet, Doesn’t say a good one… check > [@](#): > > balance accounts, OK > [@](#): > > build a wall, just as long as it’s not load-bearing > [@](#): > > set a bone, , nah, just splint a simple fracture, sorry; > [@](#): > > comfort the dying, fine > [@](#): > > take orders, give orders, Oh, that’s easy. The hard part is giving orders that _make sense._ > [@](#): > > cooperate, act alone, Again I note he does not say “successfully” > [@](#): > > solve equations, analyze a new problem, cool wit’ dat > [@](#): > > pitch manure, could learn > [@](#): > > program a computer, Hmm… rusty there… haven’t writ my own code since 1983. > [@](#): > > cook a tasty meal, check > [@](#): > > fight efficiently, OK > [@](#): > > die gallantly. :eek: Like hell, Bob, I’m putting in maximum physical and mental effort to avoid THAT result. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2006, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wow-these-people-are-our-future/355106/95 "2006-05-06T01:30:15Z")
> [@glee](#): > > Where are these located? > > Yugoslavia > Jersey > The Cook Islands > Rhodesia > Kalmykia > The USSR > Gibraltar > San Seriffe > Prussia > Turkmenistan > Belize > [@Polerius](#): > > The thing is, the U.S. hasn’t been **at war for three years** with any of these. Which do you consider more important - being able to point at Iraq, or knowing the history and politics of the region and the conflict? I realise **you** probably know, but the people who conducted the survey only focused on that one point. > [@Polerius](#): > > If, in 1943, some Americans didn’t know where Rhodesia is, that wouldn’t be appalling. What would be appaling is not knowing where Germany is. I would point out that World War 2 had been raging for 4 years by 1943. What tmade you pick that date? Also why mention just Germany, not the Axis powers? Finally, do you know where all my countries are? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![asterion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4da419/32.png) [@asterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asterion)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2006, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wow-these-people-are-our-future/355106/96 "2006-05-06T02:55:23Z")
> [@glee](#): > > Finally, do you know where all my countries are? 🙂 I don’t, but I know a Simpsons quote that fits Prussia. And besides, these days, knowing lots of Simpsons quotes is likely to be more useful than knowing geography. Especially considering that Yugoslavia, Rhodesia, The USSR, and Prussia no longer exist and the rest are not really soverign states as we’d generally think of them. Except for San Serriffe, that was an April Fool’s joke. (Some of these I already knew, a couple I had to go look up on Wikipedia.) > [@Monty Burns](#): > > Yes, I’d like to send this letter to the Prussian consulate in Siam by aeromail. Am I too late for the 4:30 autogyro? ---
**Author:** ![Polerius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/d78d45/32.png) [@Polerius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polerius)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2006, 7:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wow-these-people-are-our-future/355106/97 "2006-05-06T07:19:00Z")
> [@glee](#): > > Which do you consider more important - being able to point at Iraq, or knowing the history and politics of the region and the conflict? How likely do you think it is that someone who can’t find Iraq and Louisiana on the map will know the history and politics of the region and the conflict? I think that the same lack of curiosity that led to the lack of knowledge where a country, that the US has been at war with for 3 years, is, also leads to a lack of knowledge of more important stuff, like the ones you mentioned. That’s what this is all about, for me. I don’t give a damn whether people can find a particular country on the map, per se, but the lack of the ability to do so for major countries and for countries that have played a major role in recent US history is indicative of a larger ignoramous mindset that I find disgusting. > [@](#): > > I would point out that World War 2 had been raging for 4 years by 1943. What tmade you pick that date? > Also why mention just Germany, not the Axis powers? Why are you nitpicking on the details of what I did and did not ask? The issue is, would you be appalled if an American, or British citizen for that matter, did not know in 1943 where Germany is? ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2006, 8:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wow-these-people-are-our-future/355106/98 "2006-05-06T08:03:06Z")
Finding Iraq isn’t the hard part – it’s finding a way _out_ of Iraq that’s the trick… 😃 ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2006, 11:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wow-these-people-are-our-future/355106/99 "2006-05-06T11:22:55Z")
> [@asterion](#): > > I don’t, but I know a Simpsons quote that fits Prussia. And besides, these days, knowing lots of Simpsons quotes is likely to be more useful than knowing geography. As I said, I posted the list to test Askance, who said it was vital to know this stuff by heart. Your ability to find the answers by searching satisfies my teacher instincts perfectly. 🙂 I agree it is true that in the US it’s pretty useful socially to know Simpsons’ quotes. (The equivalent in the UK is Monty Python.) However (sadly) living in a war zone would make geography more relevant. ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2006, 11:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wow-these-people-are-our-future/355106/100 "2006-05-06T11:45:25Z")
> [@Polerius](#): > > How likely do you think it is that someone who can’t find Iraq and Louisiana on the map will know the history and politics of the region and the conflict? I hope we’re not sliding past each other here - I’m saying it is completely unnecessary to know \*\*by heart \*\* where any country is. I do think it vital to know **where** to look it up. As it happens, I couldn’t point to either Iraq or Louisiana. :eek: I know Iraq is in the Middle East and think it borders at least Iran, Kuwait and Turkey. I also know about Western Imperialism following the 2nd World War, who put Saddam in power, the oil price rises of the 70’s, the problems of the Sunni / Shi’ite beliefs, the tribal animosities and the Kurdish desire for nationhood. (As I’m from the UK, I also watched Blair explain live why the UK was going to follow the US to war, why Robin Cook resigned and the storm of protest over Dr. David Kelly.) I know Louisiana is a Southern US state. I’m confident it has a bayou and a tradition of blues music. I think it is at risk from tornadoes and hurricanes. I expect it voted for Bush and that several films have been set in that background. (This is all of the top of my head - obviously I know where to look to find out much more.) > [@Polerius](#): > > Why are you nitpicking on the details of what I did and did not ask? > The issue is, would you be appalled if an American, or British citizen for that matter, did not know in 1943 where Germany is? Well I think there is a powerful tendency for everyone to see things from their own countries point of view. I was also trying to make the point that war is rarely simple (I’m sorry if it came over as a nitpick). As you know, Germany had allies, whose actions brought the US into the war. The UK went to war in 1939 and was nearly invaded well before 1943. The conflict was raging on several continents by then, with millions of deaths. The US entered the war later, which is why I assumed you gave that date. I would be disappointed if someone did not know where Germany was. But I would much prefer that they know what the conflict was about, why the Treaty of Versailles mattered, why we were allied with a monster like Stalin and so on. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wow-these-people-are-our-future/355106.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wow-these-people-are-our-future/355106.md?page=6)